The holidays are coming very quickly and soon we will all be celebrating the coming new year. There has been very positive feed back about the site and hopefully we will continue to gather helpful information in the coming new year. I would like to take a moment to reflect on some of the treasure memories I had this year. I was fortunate to go to two Civil War events and several 18th Century events one being the Battle of Monmouth. I took some really good photographs, but I see what needs improving regarding my photo technique. I hope to improve that in the coming new year and post more photography.
I hope everyone has enjoyed all their fond memories that this past year has brought them and hope more to come in the coming new year. To view all images taken this year please visit the following website.
Starting on January 2010 we will be posting all new blog entries onto our Reenactors Journal. Recently we’ve posted an entry that lists various Living History workshops. These workshops have been listed onto our site, but we felt that they could not be easily found within the list. We will continue to update this entry as we find new workshops going on within the year.
Why these workshops are important? They help those who have a considerable amount of interest in a particular period to learn more about it and how people lived during a particular time period. It guides those who have an interest in a special skill or craft to learn how to start and complete a project.
What will you learn? These workshops guide reenactors and those new to the hobby to learn more about the lives of the people they are portraying. Some of these workshops you will learn how to cook using a hearth, hand sewing clothing, spinning, period dancing and other various activities.
Where are they located? All of the workshops I’ve listed have been found by viewing area historical museums many of them who have workshops that teach people more about the 18th and 19th Century life.
How to view the list? If you would like to view the entry please click here!
When someone says “reenacting” images of Union and Confederate soldiers jump into my head. It is an image that has been with me since I was 16 yrs old roaming around the battlefields of the Eastern U.S.A. Within previous entries I discussed the greater time periods in which people portray in the U.S.A which include the American Civil War, Revolutionary War, Renaissance and the World Wars.
I did not discuss some very incredible and important time periods that people around the world portray along with some time periods we Americans respect greatly due to it being a part of our culture.
The English Civil War – is not part of our American history but it is portrayed heavily in the United Kingdom. To find an actual unit in the states that portrays this period is like finding a needle in a haystack. You will find very limited groups that do portray this time period in America. If you have the chance to travel going to an event that portrays this time period will be a different experience than what you would experience going to an event in the states. Here are a few groups that portray this time period in the United Kingdom.
Lord Ralph Hopton his Regiment of Foote
Sir Thomas Blackwell his Regiment of Foote
Colonel George Fenwick his Regiment of Foote
Earl of Loudoun’s Regiment of Foote
Prince Rupert’s Blew Regiment of Foote
Tower Hamlets Trayned Bandes
French & Indian War – a war that had a greater impact in America as the colonies moved west to the Appalachian region into what was known as indian territory. Who would of thought that our greatest enemies would help us later to defeat the British during the American Revolution. The French and Indian War is a topic in which all 18th Century reenactors should know about since it is something that happened during this time. I believe that it also will give you a greater appreciation and a different perspective of the time period than if you were to just learning about the time at which you’re interested in portraying.
French and Indian War Commission
3rd Battalion Pennsylvania Regiment
Compagnie Franche de la Marine du Contrecoeur
Compagnie LeBoeuf
Waggener’s Company of the Virginia Regiment
Napoléon War – We have a wide variety of information if you would like to portray the Napoleon War in Europe and have listed many groups that portray this period in America. There are a few places that have annual events in the states so you will have to go to over seas to portray this time period heavily unless you are willing to also portray the 1812 War. Much of the American attitude of living history museums and museums in itself is “if it didn’t happen here than it will not be portrayed here”. That attitude does not include the World Wars since we lost many young men during that war and various wars of the 20th Century.
Brigade Napoleon
2nd Virginia Regiment
5th Maryland Infantry
US Brigade Niagara
1812 War – This war is probably one that is safe to say that it is not being portrayed as often as say the Civil War or the American Revolution. Not to say that it was not important or did not have any impacted in American history. Because without this war we would have a different national anthem and the White House would have not been burned down by the british. All events within our history are important because the effects of such events help shaped this nation as well as other nations around the world.
2nd Virginia Regiment
5th MD Regiment Vol. Infantry
1st Rifle Battalion-Aisquith’s Sharp Shooters
Aisquith’s Sharp Shooters
World Wars – 20th Century is not at all that distant and much of what happened is still remembered by those who live through it. From the American Depression to the Vietnam War there are still people who survived those harsh time and therefore the information is much more easily accessed than previous centuries. It also increases the value of accurately portraying the period. Currently we do not separate WWI and WWII units on our units list, but we hope to do it by 2010 along with some other house cleaning projects. The following are just a few units that portray the World Wars. They are not all the units we know of. Believe me there are a lot more listed on our website.
2.SS Panzer Div. “Das Reich
2nd Ranger Battalion Company E
45th Infantry Division
52nd Guards
83rd Infantry & 329th Regiment
The following time periods we still do not have a good amount of information and a list of units. If you currently are involved with or portray any time period please do not hesitate to e-mail us or leave a comment within our blog. The following time periods we hope to have a list by the end of 2010. If there are any other time periods that need to be listed please leave a note within this entry. ~ Thanks!
> French Revolution
> Mexican American War
> American Frontier
> World Wars
> Korean War
> Vietnam War
If you wish to post your unit within our website or blog please give us the following information with your comment or e-mail…..
> Group Name
> War or time period you portray
> Where you’re located
> Contact Info (e-mail or website)
There are a lot of things and do this holiday season, but why not take some time to relax and explore area landscapes and sites. Twice I was fortunate to spend a few days after the Christmas holiday in Williamsburg Virginia and Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Both trips I will never forget due to being completely out of the ordinary.
Here are a few places that are having something going on this December.
December 5-6, 2009: One of the busiest weekends of the month. There are several events happening the weekend of December 5th. There is the Seventh Victorian Christmas at the Samuel Mudd House and the Soldier’s Christmas at Carlyle House in Alexandria Virgina.
If you do not do anything else the must do event that weekend is the Annual Antietam Illumination. The illumination remembers the men who lost their lives during this one day battle. It is the only weekend out of the year, when people have access to the park at night. During any other days out of the year the park is closed by sunset, but on December 5th the park stays open in order to allow people to view the illumination. The Illumination will not be open to the public until 6:00 PM.
It will be changed to December 12th due to bad weather.
To learn more about this event please visit the battlefield’s website or wereenact.net.
December 12 -13, 2009: Due to it being rapidly getting cold outside there will be very few two-day events. So please to make double sure when, where and what time an event you’re interested in before going to an event. Battle of Iron Works Hill will be held on December 12th in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. This is an American Revolutionary event that is held annually, which features cook demos, musket firing and more.
To learn more about what events are happening in New Jersey please visit the New Jersey welcome center.
December 25, 2009: ”Witness the reenactment of the Crossing of the Delaware. General Washington will address the troops and cross the river.” If you can not make the crossing of the Delaware then join the hundreds of Revolutionary Reenactors and spectators for the annual Patriot’s Week. From December 26th to 31st enjoy everything from lectures to tours to dinners and for the annual battle reenactment. The finale of Patriot’s Week ends with the annual Battle of Trenton. The battle reenactment will end with a small parade that ends at the Barracks Museum.
This will be the final monthly event update, until the new year. We will start posting event updates once every season and we hope to keep you posted of upcoming events towards the end of January 2010. We will post a seasonal update of events at the start of each season. Example January = Winter, March= Spring, June = Summer and September = Fall.
On a cool November morning citizens and visitors of a small town in Pennsylvania remembers those who fell in one of the bloodiest three-day battles in the American Civil War. The year is 1863 and the place is Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The Confederate army numbering of 75,000 men is being followed by the Union army of 95,000 men. Lee decides to divide his army and has one brigade head out towards the east but they are met with General Meads army. This is just the beginning of what Lee and Mead faced and continued for another 2 days until finally within the last fatal day Lee suffered too many fatalities and retreats.
On November 21st hundred’s of spectators line the streets of Gettysburg to watch thousands of uniformed Civil War reenactors march through the town to remember those who never came home. This happens each year at the Annual Remembrance Day Parade which begins at 1:00 p.m. Be sure to be there ahead of time because it does get very crowded.
From sunset to 9 pm there will be a Remembrance Illumination held at the Soldiers’ National Museum. Luminary candles will be placed on each Civil War grave as a testament to the sacrifices made here in 1863. It’s an event that can’t be missed. If you are in the Battlefield after dusk you will be caught and given a $75 dollar ticket. Due to the day light hours the time when the battlefield officially closes from their summer hours of 10 pm to their winter hours of dusk on October 31st.
Reenactors portraying the Union army march @ the Annual Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade.
The Trostle Farm circa July 6, 1863 — Alexander Gardner photo
What did people do as a form of entertainment and what kind of music did they listen to? Who were some of the composers they listen to and do we know their music today? These are questions that I hope to answer within this entry. Growing up I was brought up with Country, Celtic and Pop music. But before I ever heard those genres I listen to the sounds of Mozart, Vivaldi, Handel, Beethoven, Tschalkowsky and many other well known composers. Many of these composers that I just listed were some of the composer that 18th and 19th Century women and men listen to across the world. I’ve read a few journals where these composers were discuss and well appreciated. Today we are fortunate to have various electronics to keep us entertained. In the past people used music, dance and played games as a form of entertainment.
There are a few composers that we know the music today but really do not know the name behind it. Why? I think the tunes that they created are known it just the name of the person is not as well known as the songs they produced. Throughout the generations the songs were past, but not the names of the men and women who composed them. Upon joining an 18th Century group and researching on the time period I began to research on early music and beyond. And here are some composers I advise everyone to review and listen to. You will hear some familiar tunes while listening to their music on amazon.com
Coming from a Classical background I know of a few good classical composers and listen to them in a regular basis. But finding something new to listen to can sometimes be bit of a challenge. Recently I found two very different composers from the 17th Century who portray the time period very differently. The more contemporary John Playford and the traditional Classical composer Georg Philipp Telemann. After hearing one of John Playford compositions on the radio, I searched for some more examples of his music on amazon.com. Once I looked through amazon.com I realized I had heard some of his music without knowing it. He was born in 1623 in the town of Norwich, but the images of dancing kings to camp followers seem to always appear while listening to his music. Again I found Georg Philipp Telemann by doing a basic amazon search on 17th Century composers. Georg Philipp Telemann was born in Magdeburg in 1681 and his compositions sounds more traditionally what you would expect from the 17th Century.
I also listen to a lot of Celtic music, which I was first introduced to by some of my High School friends. I’ve been playing a few celtic tunes for a number of years and was interested in learning more about the people and those who composed some of my favorite tunes. One Scottish composer is Niel Gow who was born in Inver onMarch 1727. His son Nathaniel Gow who was born in Inver on May 1763 also became a composer of Celtic music. I’ve found out about this composer and many others through my research finding new music to play on the violin/fiddler. They are both mentioned in “The Fiddle Music of Scotland” by James Hunter.
Recently I discovered “A Modest Collection of Traditional Songs of the Colonial Period” by M. Richard Tully that has a few tunes that were written and known by 18th Century women and men. One composer in which the books notes is Thomas D’Urfey who wrote the song “A Beggin’ I will go. He was born in 1653 but his songs migrated with the new settlers of the New World. Many of the tunes that the colonist had known were traditional English, Scottish and Irish folk songs that they took with them and taught the tunes to their children. By the time the American Revolution many of the words of the tunes were change by both the English and Colonial Army. And many of the words we know today had a very different meaning during the time of the American Revolution. We only known the words that were taught by our parents and by their parent’s parents and so on and therefore that is how many of the traditional folk songs are known today.
The Renaissance is portrayed in various ways in the states. For someone who wants to portray it respectfully and accurately it can be very confusing finding out what sutlers to buy clothing from and what sutlers are ones to stay away from. Listed are just a few that I’ve found through google searches and traveling to area Renaissance festivals. You can view the full list of sutlers and shops by visiting our website >>> click here!
I know this is a wide range of time periods but this is probably one of the most well know and one that is not being portrayed as hardcore as the other time periods. Since the 1970’s/60’s Renaissance and Medieval festivals have been popping up across the nation and around the world. In there own right they bring history to life, but for those who are hardcore reenactors it is not a place where authentic portrayal of the time period occurs. I admit it that I spent a large portion of my young adulthood at the Renaissance festival and continue to visit the local faire every other year. Its a form of entertainment and people can freely express themselves in this carefree environment.
We respect all forms and time periods that are portrayed in the world of reenacting. The following information we provide is limited due to we are still learning more about this form and the time periods that are being portrayed. We hope to learn more about this form of reenacting this year and hope to have more events available for those who have an interest in portraying the following time periods. We don’t know how soon this information will become available, but when we gather enough information we will be sure let you know.
Ancient Clans we known them as the Celts, Romans, Vikings and many others. It is being reenacted around the world and portrayed in many Military through the Ages t events in America. Even though the events that these organizations in the U.S.A participate in are limited they still have a form of accuracy. Many of these ancient clans have impacted our modern day world from our politics to impacting our culture through the music we listen today.
As always the following groups featured on this entry are those groups who are in the Washington D.C Area which includes MD, VA and PA. If you don’t live in the area please continue to visit our website @ wereenact.net
Legio XX
Legion XXIV
The Jomsvikings
Longship Company
Markland Medieval Mercenary Militia
Medieval and Renaissance Reenacting is not limited to the local Renaissance/Medieval faire there are some authentic events happening you just need to know where to look. One of the best known organizations that emphasis on portraying the 15th to the 17th Century is the SCA or the Society of Creative Anachronism. Many of the organizations that are part of this organization emphasizes in learning the use of weapon, art, dance, music and life style of the time period. And they are well-known for their less hardcore style of interruption. So if you’re looking for something that is more “carefree” join your local SCA group. Now if you would like to join something that is more accurate and “hardcore” than it will take some research in finding a group but they are out there. Of course most of the authentic and hard-core reenacting in this time period is happening in Europe but there are many organizations in the U.S.A and Canada who portray this time period. Again our resources are limited but hope to continue to update this information.
Knights of Hospitaller
La Belle Compagnie
Markland Medieval Mercenary Militia
Men of Warwick
The Empire of Chivalry and Steel
Piracy has a long history but the most notorious pirates lived during the 16th to the 18th Century. The film industry along with long periods of time have conducted many myths and legends of pirates. And therefore misinterpretation of pirates occur. There are many events that use the pirate theme one of which includes the pirate festivals. Like the Renaissance festival these festivals are a form of entertainment and not for the authentic reenacting nut. If you wish to go to an event I recommend an 18th or 16th Century event that will discuss pirate life or visit a location that will have a pirate encampment or at a marine museum to learn more about the ships and people.
Chesapeake Picaroons
The Moody Crewe
The Pirates of the Drunken Ferret
Revered Order of Pirates and Rogues
If you’re a group or organization that portrays the time periods that were featured on this article we would love to hear from you and add you onto our website. As a reminder we are still doing lots of research on these forms of reenacting and would love to learn more about these time periods. Please feel free to continue to look towards our site for information on upcoming events and finding organizations in your area.
Next time we will be featuring a few groups that portray the World Wars, Vietnam and other 20th Century Wars. So look back to this blog for more information soon.
October went fast, but there are a few last weekend events happening in November. We will post an entry on available winter activities in December and will update it as frequently as possible until more events become available. Until then we will not post a monthly entry on events happening each month. Through that time we will be working hard to update information on our site. ~ Thanks!
If you live up North some of the events happening this November are happening down south. There are many events happening the weekend of November sixth to the ninth. The Battle of Zollicoffer is just one event happening that weekend and its an American Civil War event held in Bluff City, TN on November 7-8,2009. If you live in the North Carolina area there is another event happening that weekend. The Battle of Fort Branch is another Civil War event that is held in Fort Branch, NC which is located two miles below Hamilton, North Carolina and 60 miles upriver of the town of Plymouth. This event is held on November 7th to 8th, 2009.
Another event happening in November is one that remembers the Battle of Secessionville. It is held in Mt. Pleasant, SC and from November 13th to the 15th. One hundred forty-seven years ago, June 14, 1862, a small group of Confederates soldiers from the 1st SC Artillery had just completed a portion of the earthwork embankments of Tower Battery located on James Island. The battery came under assault in a pre-dawn attack from an invading Federal force. The ensuing battle proved disastrous for the invading Federals. Outmanned 3 to 1, the Confederate troops stood their ground and won a decisive victory that would signify Charleston’s strong defenses against the invading Federal forces. On November 14 – 15, 2009, history will repeat itself in the form of living history. Step back into time as men, women and children present what life may have been like during the Antebellum era. Become a part of that era with interactive historical displays. Come relive the actions of the men who fought with honor and courage as the Confederate Heritage Trust in association with Boone Hall Plantation bring you the 19th Annual Re-enactment of the Battle of Secessionville.
The Annual Gettysburg Remembrance Day is held each year and this year it is held on November 21st to the 22nd. Thousands of reenactors go to Gettysburg to remember those who lost there lives in one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. Throughout the weekend there will be special activities which include a parade, an illumination, a reenactment of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address and lectures series. It is an event for anyone who is interested in the American Civil War to go to at least once.
For additional information on upcoming events please visit our website.
Halloween brings up so many childhood memories of parading costumes around the school field and going trick o treating around the neighborhood, but as we grow up those memories become our children’s childhood memories. But what if you are currently not in the faze of your life and are a little to old to go trick o treating? There are many opportunities for historic enthusiast when it comes to Halloween and they can easily become annual events.
Halloween has become the second largest holiday celebrated in the U.S.A. It got it’s earlier roots from the Celts harvest New Year that was celebrated 2,000 years ago. When the Christians concurred the old pagan beliefs they turned it to a holiday of All Saints or All Souls (Nov 1st) day. Some of the holiday traditions we use today actually come from the Celts such as putting a candle in a pumpkin (turnip) and wearing costumes were all brought to this country from early settlers of the Irish decent. Events posted are just a few events happening that use the traditions of the holiday of folklore and masquerade to create a unique event.
Be sure to continue to visit the following entry, since it is one that will continue to grow as more events are found. We will only note events that happen annually and we apologize for any late information.
Candlelight Tours of Old City Cemetery - Lynchburg, VA
October 15 – 24, 2009
Ghosts of Sotterley Plantation Tour – Hollywood, MD
October 15 – 17, 2009
Spiritways: A Night in Besieged Salem Village – Salem, MA
October 17, 24 and 31, 2009
Legacy of the Hanging Judge - Salem, MA
October 16 – 31, 2009
Boone Hall Fright Nights – Charleston, SC
October 16 – 31, 2009
Spirits of Gables – Salem, MA
October 16 – 31, 2009
Edgar Allan Poe Comes Alive! - Luray, VA
October 24, 2009
Ghost Walk at Fort Frederick State Park – Big Pool, MD
October 24, 2009
Ghost and Legends of Fort Ligonier – Ligonier, PA
October 29, 2009
Mayhem and Mystery at Morgan Log House – Lansdale, PA
October 30, 2009
